Mick McCarthy saluted the two partnerships at both ends of the pitch as Wolves registered another impressive away performance and made it three wins in a week at Cardiff tonight.

The boss was delighted both the goalscoring contributions of his in-form strike-force Chris Iwelumo and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who are now on double figures for the season apiece after their early strikes.

There was praise too for the new-look defensive duo as Richard Stearman and Michael Mancienne - on his first Wolves start - kept Cardiff at bay for all but the moment when Ross McCormack fired home in the first half.

"It's not surprising in this league that if your centre forwards score goals and are a handful for opposition defenders - and your two centre backs can deal with their centre forwards you've got a chance," said Mick after the 2-1 win.

"Most people play 4-4-2 and if you get those two areas right you can win games.

"I thought their little fella (McCormack) showed he's one of the best players in the Championship today with his performance and while I don't like to see anyone injured it didn't do us any harm when he had to go off.

"But our two are obviously a handful as well - they're up there with the top scorers in the division and deservedly so.

"Strikers have spells where they score and when they don't but at the moment our two are doing it.

"It was always going to be nervy at the end when they were attacking and throwing balls into our box but they only really produced the one late chance where Carl Ikeme made a great save.

"Stearman and Mancienne had a lot to do with that - I thought they were excellent."

And Mick revealed that he believes Mancienne is worth the wait having been on the Chelsea defender's trail for some 18 months before clinching the loan deal this week.

"I first tried to sign him maybe 18 months ago and he went to QPR," he said.

"I tried again last season and he went to QPR again!

"This season we've been looking and when we contacted him this time we got him.

"Chelsea had to get (Ricardo) Carvalho back first and once they did we were in.

"I'm delighted with him and I think he was terrific today.

"He's in there battered and bruised after Carl ran into him and then he got kicked after but he already knows what the Championship is all about."

On the game itself Mick was delighted that it was Wolves' turn to get off to a superb start with two goals inside the opening 12 minutes.

And equally pleased they then managed to see the game out for another crucial three points.

"It was a pleasant surprise to get the early goals," he said.

"We're usually one down and trying to push treacle up the hill to get back in the game by that stage.

"Cardiff gone back into it and it was always going to be difficult and our players certainly know they've been in a game.

"It's a great three points but I think we warranted the result and deserved it.

"It shows that there's a bit of toughness about us to come to Ninian Park and win because a lot of teams will come here and get slapped."

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